Vending machine



April 9, 1935.

A. E. REIMERS ET AL VENDING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y E N R O w A April 9, 1935. r A. E. REIMERS 2? AL. 9 9

' vEfiDING MACHINE Filed June 23, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR$ ATTORNEY Ap 9, 1935. 'A. E. REIMERS ET AL 1,997,080

VENDING MAQHINEv Filed June 23, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 9, 1935. A. E. REIMERS ET AL L Z VENDING MACHINE Filed June-23, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 fll/red E Fame/s I gqlier [1f Tammdzr ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 9, 1935 i I UNI-TEDY'YVSTATES "PATENT. OFFICE VENDING MACHINE Alfred E. Reimers, Harrington Park, and Walter K. Tavender, Haworth, N. J., assignors, by mesne assignments, to'Automatic Equipment,

Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Dela ware application an. 23, 1933, Serial No. 678,000 7 2 Claims. (01. 312--68.)

This invention relates to: vending machines Fig.4 is a front sectional view, taken on the and our improvements, which pertain to the class line 4-4 of Fig. 3. of vending machines comprised in our earlier Fig. 5 is a similar view to Fig. 3, showing the applications, Serial No. 589,822, filed January 30, kickeoff mechanism in operation.

5 1932, and Serial No. 609,300, filed May 4, 19 32, are Fig. 6 is a horizontal section, taken on the line 5,

' directed to certain modified forms of someof the 6-6 of Fig. 1.

mechanisms employed in performing the func- Fig. 7 is a detail, being a horizontal section of tions of the machine, saidmodifications constithe washer catcher, takenon the line 'l-'! of tuting further developments in the, art. Fig. 3. s p For instance, our present improvements in- Fig. 8 is a similar view, taken on the line 8.8 o clude modified means, actuable in the operation of Fig. 3. I

of the pull-rod, to elevate the article rise-limit- "Fig. 9 is a perspective detail of the coin cone ing finger into spaced relation with the topmost trolled a e mechani m. article of the stack, aftersaid finger has lifted Fi 10 is a top plan view.

the brake-bar to cause the brake to be applied. Fig. 11 is a horizontal section taken on the line 15 Another feature comprised in the, application is ll" of Fi 2- that of novel means for raising the lodged coin, Fig. 12 is a horizontal section taken on the line which cause it, in the first part of the movement l2l2 of Fig. 2. V of the pull-rod, to release the lock catch holding Fig. 13 is a front elevation of one of the forthe kick-off mechanism from delivering an artiward article guides, with the gate thereon closed. 20

' ole, and permitting'delivery to be eifected. Fig. 14' is a similar view, showing the gate open.

A still further feature consists of novel coin Fig. 15 is a partial, side sectional elevation,

lodgement means that support only a proper coin taken on the line |5l5 of Fig. 13, and of the exact designated diameter, and reject all Fig. 16 is a horizontal section taken on the line smaller coins or tokens. |8-I6 of Fig. 13. 25

Also our improvements include the provision In the figures, let I indicate the rear flange of of hinged gates that, when open, facilitate the the machine encasing frame, 2 the left side wall, replenishment ofthe magazine. 3 the-base flange and 4 the front flange.

Also, our improvements include the provision As in our application Serial No. 589,822, a verof guards, adjustable as to height, carried by the tically movable carriage'5 is employed, said car- 30 hinged gates, for preventing withdrawal of artiriage having a table 6 to support a stack of articles below the topmost. I cles indicated at 1, and also having a governor Still further our improvements include the feato control its speed of travel, said governor being ture of automatic openingand closing means for generally indicated at 8 and corresponding with the coin slot, operablebythe brake-bar in its the governor mechanism disclosed in our said ap- 35.

" up and down movements, the upward movement plication, Serial No. 589,822. Weights, here of the brake-bar causing the closure means to shown at 9, are connected by a cable III with the open the slot, and the downward movement of carriage, said cable passing over a pulley ll, enthe brake-bar causing the closure means to close abling the weights to serve as means for urging the slot. 1 the carriage upwardly. Fixed upper and lower 40 Also in our improvements the table which supmembers i 2, [8 support the four vertical rods [4, ports the stack of articles is adjustable in its that form a rectangular guide for the weights 9, area between the stack guides, so that it may which latter are notched as at l5 to receive said carry stacks of articles of varying sizes. rods. Other features and advantages of our inven The carriage '5, which is to be moved upwardly '45 'tion will hereinafter appear. by the weights, is guided by a rack bar l6, hav- In the drawings: ing a rack ll, which is engaged by a pinion (not Fig, 1 is a side sectional elevation of our imherein shown), forming part of the gear train inproved vending machine, taken on the line ll of cluded in the governor mechanism, all of which Fig. 2; r is merely referred to herein, it being fully de- 50 Fig. 2 is a front sectional elevation of the mascribed and illustrated in our said earlier applichine. r cation, Serial No. 589,822. I V Fig; 3 is a partial side sectional View, taken Cable H], which has a tubular housing l0a', is'

on .the line 33 of Fig. 4, showingthe kick-off shown as provided with a terminal block l8, that 5 mechanism before operation. engages under a Weight supporting table l9, and

the other end of the cable is shown connected with the table 6, as at 20, a spring 2| serving to cushion this connection.

Also the weights are adapted to be supported, in a raised position, while the carriage is being reloaded, .by means of a chain 22, that is passed over a pulley 23 andlies within a recess 24 formed in the sides of the weights, said chain having a terminal member 35, attached to a block 36, said chain passing through a. slot in table l9 and said' block, when drawn upwardly, engaging-the tablel9 and causing the Weights Qto be hoisted away from the terminal memberIB Thenthe chain may be caught upon the fixedtooth 31 which projects from the upper, forward frame portion 38,

of the topmost article," the succeeding topmost article will be moved into contactwith portion 43 V in the rising action of the carriage, causing finger 42 to raise member 4| and brake-bar 39, thereby causingthe brake to be applied to stay the upward travel of the carriage, through the mechanisms which are fully shown and described in our said earlier application, ,Serial No. 589,822;

A traveller 44, in the form of a pair of spaced parallel plates, connected together, and having intermediate rollers, 45, is mounted by said rollers upon a fixed, horizontal bar 46, and is adapted to be moved to and fro by means of a pull-rod 41 that is provided with a forwardly projecting handle '48. Said pull-rod is pivotally connected at 49, to a lever, that is fulcrumed at itsupper end to the wall 2, as'at and is pivotally connected, at

"its lower end, to a pendent portion 52 of traveller 44, as at 53, by which means a relatively short pull upon the pull-rod imparts an adequate travel movement to the traveller.

.Also said traveller 44 carries'the'kick ofimeans, here shown as comprising a pair of horizontal, spaced members 54, which are adapted to lie across the top of the topmost article, said members 54 having depending spurs 55, that hang behind the topmost article, to eject it in the forward movement of the pull-rod. Also the members 54 have forward, pendent lips 56, that hang in front of the topmost and next succeeding articles, to prevent delivery in short, to and fro shifts of the traveller before the lock release mechanism, which will be described hereinafter, has been actuated.

Means for locking the traveller 44 against forward movement are provided as follows: A'pawl or latch 51, pivoted as at 58 to wall 2, lies in the path of a block 60 or stop which projects'from the traveller 44, it being necessary to elevate said pawl so that it will clear block 60 to permit the operation of the pull-rod for delivery of a topmost article. Also the pawl 51 carries a tooth 59 to oo-act with block 60 as a secondary stop. For the purpose of so elevating the pawl 51 we employ an interponent, which may be in the form of a proper coin 6|, that has been introduced through a coin chute 62, and deposited upon aninclined shelf 63 that is fixed to the wall 2, said coin lying with its sides between the'f-wall of said traveller and'thesprin finger 64: that is extended, from traveller 4.4 and has an angled terminal portion 65, the diameter of said coin being gauged so that it will become peripherally lodged between the angled portion 65 and the inclined shelf 63. Whereas if a smaller coin were introduced through the coin chute, it would not become so lodged but would rolldown the shelf 63 and be ejected from the machine, instead of falling into the coin' box 66.

With a proper coin ledged in the manner described the outward movement of traveller 44, eflectedby drawing upon pull-rod 41, causes said coin to travel up incline 63 on the horizontal surface 61, that forms a continuation of shelf 63, the coin, in its upward travel having peripheral contact withthe under surface of a flange 68 that projects from the side of pawl 51, thereby lifting said pawl to clear it from opposition to member '66, thus permitting the traveller to be pulled out to the full extentof the pull rod stroke, in which operation the spurs 55 will perform their function of delivering the topmost article. During this outward travel the coin will fall from Surface 61 on to the inclined surface 66, whence it will'be deposited into the coin box 66. If pull upon-the pull-rod ceases short or delivering an article, and the coin has been carried past angle 5la,'to rest ch69, then the angle 51c blocks the coin and prevents return of the traveller until completion of the stroke and delivery of the article. In this way the passing of the coin into the coin box, without delivery of the article, is avoided.

Pivotally mounted in 'a bracket [0 that extends from the brake-bar 3915 a roller II that, in the normal position of traveller 44 (see Fig. 3), lies opposed to an incline "formed in a clearance T3 that is provided in the upper portion of the brake-bar 39 and withit the finger 42, tocreate a clearance between terminal portion 43 and'the topmost article which is to be delivered. 1

The additional elevation thus imparted mm brake-bar beyond that given it in the rise or the carriage, occurs. during "the first part of the pull-rod movement, whilst the spurs 56 are moving up tow the topmost article, so that there may be no frictional. contact between. the terminal portion 43 and the topmost article, that might other wise tend to mar such article in its delivery movement.

Also, the traveller 4,4;which is returnable as by means of a weight 15,.pendent by a cable [6, that passes over a sheave TI and is connected with-said traveller as at 18; returnsz'the kick-oil device to the positionzin whichthe. spurs 551m behind the vertical plane the rear of the stack of articles, see Fig. 5, before permitting the rollers H to descend: the incline".

The roller 1| remains on dwell surface 14. to hold brake-bar 39' up'until the traveller. has returned to normal, taking'the block 60 back behind pawl 51, thus preventing. thestack from rising to present the next article to the delivery point before the traveller is locked.

The stack supporting table 6 has a. pendent flange 19 that isprovided with a horizontal slot 80, a thumb screw 8| penetrating said slot and engaging the carriage, to bind the table in an adjusted position. Upon loosening the thumb screw the table may beshifted to-adiust its width'so that the table may accommodate stacked articles of variable Thfitablel with ment is necessary because vertical guide members are employed that confine the stack laterally, one of these guides being fixed and the other adjustable. Thus, at 82 appears an upper transverse member, which is braced as at 83 to the frame portion 38, and also secured to wall 2, and at 84 appears a lower transverse member which is secured, as at 85, to the wall 2. A fixed vertical guide member 86 is secured to both these members 82, 84, to confine the stack laterally at the left side thereof. Also each of the members 82, 84 have a horizontal slot 85, to receive thumb screws I86 that respectively gauge a vertical guide member 81 that confines the stack at its right side. The thumb screws I86 are adjustable in slots 85 to permit lateral shifting of the member 81.

A blracket 88, secured as at 89 to the wall 2, is disposed rearwardly of and in a lower plane than member 84, said bracket 88 having a slot 90 for the lateral adjustment of a thumb screw 9I, that is carried by a flange 92 of the guide member 87.

Also, to confine the stack rearwardly we provide vertical guide members 93, 94, the guide 93 being adjustably connected, top and bottom with fixed brackets 95 by screws 96, that ride in slots 930., and the guide 94 having adjustable connection top and bottom, with the guide 8'! by screws 9'! that engage slots 98 in said guide 81.

By the adjustable guide means thus described thestack of articles, of difierent lengths and widths, may be confined both laterally and fore and aft, and held in alignment. The forward flanges 99 of guides 86, 81 maintainthe front alignment of the stack, up to a certain height. Hinged to the guides 86, 81, above flanges 99, and constituting continuations thereof are a pair of gates I having locking hinges I 0| said gates, when closed and locked covering the front of the right and left end portions of the articles, to hold them in alignment.

The gates, when lifted to relieve their hinge locks, may be swung open for the purpose of facilitating reloading the magazine.

Guards I02, having vertical slots I03, are adjustably connected to the gates I00 by means of thumb screws I04, said guards, for convenience, having finger holds I whereby they may be shifted vertically, according to the thickness of the articles in the stack, to prevent removal of other than the topmost article.

The transverse member 4|, which is connected with the brake-bar 39, and moves therewith, carries a rod I05a that is connected therewith as by a member I06, said rod I05a engaging a coin slot closing plate I01 that is pivoted, as at I08, the upward movement of the brake-bar causing plate.

I01 to swing to the slot open position, and the downward movement of the brake-bar causing plate I07 to swing to the slot closing position. Thus, whilst vendible articles remain on the carriage the coin slot will be uncovered becausev of the upward urging of said carriage by the weights and the recurringly presented contact of the topmost stack article with finger portion 43. But, if no article remains on the carriage table, the brake-bar will fail to be actuated and hence the coin slot will remain closed.

The cable I0, carrying weights, is of such adjusted length that the weights will come to rest upon their base support when the carriage has reached its topmost position with no article thereon to engage the finger portion 43, so that the table 6 will be thereby halted in spaced relation with said portion 43, and thus the table, devoid of articles, will fail to actuate the brake-bar, in consequencewhereof the coin slot will remain closed. I

A magnet I09 is shown as positioned in the path of coin travel, to intercept magnetizable disks and prevent them from becoming lodged in the manner of a true coin for operation of the machine.

Also, as means for intercepting non-magnetizable washers we employ a dog IIO, pivoted at III to a bracket I I2 that is secured to wall 2, said dog having a tooth H3 and being urged by aspring II4 to impale a washer that may have become lodged upon shelf 63. Spring 64 has a slot II5 formed therein, and another spring II6, that lies against spring 64, has a clearance II! that exposes slot II5. It is by means of clearance I I1 and slot II5 that tooth II3 may engage the washer as the traveller is moved outwardly, leaving the washer impaled behind, and thus incapa.'

ble of lifting the pawl 51, which is the function of a true coin. What happens is that the washer becomes caught between the wall of the traveller and the two points of springs 64 and I I6, because spring II6 also has an angled terminal portion II8, like the portion 65 of spring 64. Since the forward movement of the traveller is checked by stop 60, it will be returned, and in this return movement the washer will be carried beyond the shelf 63 and ejected therefrom.

Variations within the spirit and scope of our invention are equally comprehended by the foregoing disclosure.

We claim:

1. The combination, in a vending machine, having a carriage adapted to support a stack of articles, means for raising said carriage, braking means therefor, a shiftable brake-bar to operate said braking means, and means opposed to the topmost article adapted when contacted there-' with to shift said brake-bar, of a slidable member operable to deliver said article, and a roller carried by said brake-bar, said slidable member having an incline that co-acts with said roller in the initial part of the operation of said slidable member, to elevate said brake-bar and cause it to release said opposed means from contact with said article prior to delivery of the latter.

2. The combination, in a vending. machine, having a carriage adapted to support a stack of articles, means for raising said carriage, braking means therefor, a shiftable brake-bar to operate said braking means, and means opposed to the topmost article adapted when contacted therewith to shift said brake-bar, of a slidable member operable to deliver said article, said slidable member having a dwell surface and an incline leading upwardly thereto, a roller carried by said brakebar and lying opposed to said incline in the normal position of said slidable member, said roller, in the initial part of the operation of said slidable member being carried up said incline on to said dwell surface, thereby elevating said brakebar and causing it to raise said opposed means out of contact with said article prior to delivery of the latter.

ALFRED E. REIMERS. WALTER K. TAVENDER. 

